Both Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with potential moves for the 23-year-old but Collins believes the writing was on the wall for Barkley after Everton brought Wayne Rooney back from Manchester United.

However, Collins believes it can be very difficult to install the necessary attitude in a player in order to push him onto the next level.

“Some managers, you look at him and you say he’s got talent, can I put that desire and that work ethic into him and turn him into a top player,” he said.

“But it’s difficult to give players that desire.

“When I watch him sometimes he doesn’t really want the ball all the time.”

Collins added: “Is it confidence? I don’t think so because he’s got a lot of talent, he’s got skill, he’s got power, he’s got speed but to be a top player – as we are all talking about it – you have got to have the whole package.

“At this moment when I am seeing him he doesn’t have the whole package.”